3
Letters to the Editor
Manna from Anna
May I please, through your columns, express my thanks to Anna of the
Manna Café, Botley Baptist Church, for her generous hospitality
extended to an eighteen-strong family party I recently took for lunch and
a get together in her café. Five small children were kept totally amused
with the wide range of toys and books available, our various delicious
lunches were served with care and tastefulness, and the offer to us all to
stay as long as we liked was much appreciated.
It was an excellent way for me to accommodate my American visitors,
who were too numerous to fit in my flat.
Thank you, Anna, for a happy experience.
Elsie Hinkes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prescriptions, Results, Technology
Please help us to help you. We are aware that issues with prescriptions
are one of the common problems we are all facing. To that end, we would
be grateful if you can choose a pharmacy to which we can send your
prescriptions. This is where the technology comes in.
We can issue the prescription and send it electronically to the chemist of
your choice. It usually takes a few minutes to show up on the system in
the pharmacy, but this can take up to 30 minutes during busy times when
there is increased traffic on the internet.
If you would like to try this, please contact the surgery so we can set the
system up for you. This will also be environmentally friendly less paper
prescriptions, saving trees and the planet. It will reduce time as you will
not need to collect the prescription from the surgery and then take it to
the pharmacy (saves fuel as well).
Another way we are trying to use technology for mutual benefit is by
sending text messages to your mobile phone. By doing this we will be
able to give you results directly and send reminders about appointments
for blood tests, BP check etc. It also goes without saying that this will
make things quicker, save time, money and energy.
7
Review of the Year
[Editor’s review of the year 2018-19, as shared at the Sprout AGM in July]
“Looking back through last year’s Sprouts, I was proud
to see what a lively and informative magazine it has
become, reflecting a quiet suburb that is more
interesting than it might seem at first glance.
Here are a few of the highlights.
Sustainability has been a constant theme,
starting with an article in March inviting people to
switch energy providers to ‘Planet friendly power, and
expressing local hopes to be “the place where more
people use green energy than anywhere else.’ Over the year these
escalated as awareness of the global predicament grew, until we were
reporting the Parish Council’s declaration of a Climate Emergency, local
input into School Strikes for the Climate and the Extinction Rebellion
protests in London, and most recently the efforts of Waitrose in the Botley
Road to do away with much of their plastic packaging, something which
they pioneered here because of local interest.
April saw the start of a few lively Letters pages. This was the month
when we printed the first letter welcoming the new development of the
shopping centre and listing all the things that made Botley ‘a joke’ to the
rest of Oxford. The directors had their doubts about the suitability of such
criticism, and even more so the following month when we published a
brutally frank endorsement. In the end, though, these letters provoked
some vigorous rebuttals from people who love our home patch, and then
the excitement of the letters page was over for a while!
Botley’s story has always been about transport. It is the reason we are
here and the cause of many of our problems. It is the cause, indeed, of
the very existence of the Sprout, which tries to mitigate the disconnect
caused by having major roads quarter our patch. We were thus very
happy to publish Malcolm Graham’s detective work on past attempts to
make us a transport corridor In May he told us about the proposed canal
route of 1802, and in September it was the turn of the mid 19th Century
railway which would have wiped out North Hinksey. The issue was taken
up again in October when the possibility of the mighty OxfordCambridge
Expressway was dropped on us, with daunting implications for the people
9
living along the Southern By Pass and Stanley Close, as well as for
Wytham Woods and the War Graves in the cemetery. Resistance has
been solid so far, with only the County Council supporting the project,
while parishes along the proposed routes are united in opposition. We
will continue to report on something likely to have a big effect on us all.
There were other development issues throughout the year. First, the
redevelopment of the shopping centre finally got under way, and the
Sprout gave constant updates from the community campaign that
monitored and challenged the plans at every step, in an attempt to wrest
them into a shape that felt it belonged to us. Another theme that picked
up momentum as the year advanced was the Flood Alleviation Scheme.
In July we described how the Oxford Preservation Trust came into the
fray, holding a walk through their beautiful meadow behind the pylons
beyond North Hinksey Lane to try and gauge what would be the effects.
Thanks to them, all the trees sentenced to felling were marked and people
started to realize the plans might have more negative consequences than
had been advertised. Resistance grew, a local pressure group was
formed to get the plans modified, the Environment Agency defended the
project and the Sprout reported developments at every stage, leading up
to the July Public Enquiry [Now indefinitely postponed, see page XX.).
People who had made a local impact during the year were Dr Chadwick
whose retirement was reported in May, and Philip Stephens, a community
stalwart of many years’ standing, who had passed away over the
summer. October was the month when we reported on the life of Eleanor
Bolton, the ‘Botley Bag Lady’ who had been found dead earlier in the
year. Her funeral was a dignified occasion and the tribute from Mary
Squires put many false rumours about her to rest. So many people asked
to see the article that I was glad I had kept some copies back. Articles
about young musicians and hat-makers showed that Botley was home to
some exciting initiatives, and I was also proud to have published some
thought-provoking articles: End of Life Care and the need to think
creatively about death by Chris Sugden in May and Linda Losito’s two
articles about the natural world in June and November. The literary talent
in our midst, which Martin Harris documented in his series ‘Literary
Botley’ is alive and flourishing, and the Sprout is lucky to benefit from it.
A good year then, and the Sprout continues to thrive.
Ag MacKeith, Editor
11
Pears
When we mention pears, you probably think of the
ubiquitous Conference available in the
supermarkets all year round. There are, though,
many more varieties of pears if you look. Pears
were developed mainly in Europe (particularly
Belgium) and so are not as adapted to our
climate as apples. This means that many of the
varieties in the shops are imported. Conference
pears are often grown in Holland and stored for
many months before being brought to the supermarkets. This gives the
impression that they are in season all year round and it is easy to miss
the varieties that are only available for a short while. Look out for Forelle
in spring and Abbe Fetel (or Abate Fetel, sometimes just Abate) in May,
Concorde in autumn and Doyenne de Comice (usually Comice) in winter.
In order to prevent pears ripening too fast, they need to be kept cold
preferably at only a degree above freezing. They will continue to ripen in
the fridge, but more evenly than at room temperature and you can bring
them out for a day or two to get them to the perfect ripeness for eating.
If you grow your own pears, you can choose from a wide variety of trees,
selected to ripen when you most want them – from early August for Beth
to the New Year for Josephine de Malines. The trick with your own pears
is knowing when to pick them. All pears need to be picked when they are
too hard to eat – if you can pick and eat the pear straight away then you
have left them too long and they will rot quickly. Some will be ready in a
few days, others might take several months before they are even
remotely edible, but they are usually worth the wait. The trick is to test
the tree for readiness gently lift a likely-looking pear and if it detaches
from the tree cleanly, then it is ready
and time to pick the whole tree.
Next month we will explore some
ideas to deal with the inevitable
glut.If you grow your own pears,
wish to, or are simply interested in
pears, please come along to
Botley’s Apple Day and talk to us!
Colin & Sally Hersom
13
Camping with the Cubs
This is an article written by the 4th Oxford Cubs after their week end camp
in May. It’s a collective effort, written in the Cubs’ own words…
“We went to cub camp played games, prepared dinner and roasted
marshmallows.“
“We put up
our tents;
our tent had
a rip in it
and we had
to move
tents. We
didn’t get
much sleep
in the end -
but more
sleep than
we
expected!
“We went on a nature hike and climbed trees one of us almost fell
out, but didn’t. We found some resin, it was dried up, we think it had
a bug in it. It might turn to precious amber in a couple of million years.“
We did archery, medieval jousting with tin can opponents and
bamboo lances, and we made and decorated the shields. We also
made model siege catapults with lolly sticks and rubber bands.
We made ourselves dinner and cooked it on the fire. We made
damper (basic bread wrapped around a stick cooked above the
embers), and ate it, best bread ever. We drank hot chocolate.
Some of our favourite things were the nature hike, telling stories
around the campfire and playing duck duck goose. Some of us tried
making tea with nettles which we liked doing, even though some cubs
thought it didn’t taste very nice! We also liked eating the food.
“Lots of us have been on camp before; we like going on camp
because it is fun; and because we get a longer amount of time to do
the usual cub stuff.“
15
Climate challenge where to begin?
It’s one thing to declare a Climate Emergency (as the Parish, the Vale,
the City, and even the Government have done), but what can we
physically do to avert reaching a point of no return in eleven years’
time? Things have to change on two fronts: at home so that we are
part of the solution, not part of the problem; and on a broader front,
so that laws and systems supply an effective framework for action.
It’s easy to be overwhelmed by grief at the damage to our lovely
planet, and a sense of futility in the face of such an enormous
problem! But take heart, together we can make a difference. The
question is, where to start?
Low Carbon West Oxford have set up the Act Now programme, which
offers real help. It’s based on their ‘Five Things’ campaign (six really,
see below*) about the main things we need to do. The programme is
open to anyone in the area and that includes Botley, details here:
www.lowcarbonwestoxford.org.uk/act-now/
You don’t have to be an activist to sign up, just wanting to do
something effective and needing help to get started. Everyone is
welcome at the Sunday morning workshops from 5th October. Each
workshop will explore a different area of personal responsibility and
potential action, and give clear information about how to reduce your
carbon footprint.
The Oxford Together on Climate Change website was set up by eight
local groups to support people across the county to act and to add
their input to a growing list of what people have done already. This is
the place to record your solar panels, or any other thing you’ve done
to make your home more sustainable. (www.change4climate.uk)
*1. Diet reduce or eliminate meat and dairy in our diets. 2. Transport
cycle, walk or use public transport wherever possible (or car share). 3.
Money think if you really need it before you buy it. Fund community
renewables with your pension or savings, not climate change. 4. Make
our homes as energy-efficient as possible and cut waste. Reduce and
reuse before you recycle. 5. Look after local wildlife and think how
shopping choices impact on biodiversity and 6 Notice what you’re feeling
and talk about it. Chances are other people are feeling the same, and
together you can encourage each other to take action.
17
What else can we do?
Are you going on the international Climate Strike in Bonn Square on
20th September? (see www.globalclimatestrike.net) See you there!
Local action works best when we work together. The Association for
Botley Communities is having a meeting to plan what we can do here
on Friday Sept 6th (7.30pm at the Seacourt Hall). It’s a forum to
discuss ways of bringing more people in to work on climate change,
but also to talk about air pollution and supporting our green spaces
and wildlife (and hedgehogs!). As for the Parish Council, they are
digging in their heels over the sustainability elements in the
Neighbourhood Plan; continuing to oppose the Oxbridge
Expressway; and planning a Botley Climate Action Day in November
which will give a platform for every local initiative to make itself known.
Recent changes at Vale council have seen them get more active on
environmental issues, including climate and air pollution. Your
councillors need encouraging to develop a clear climate action plan,
and to use the planning system to reduce emissions from new
developments. We can start by asking our local councillors what they
are doing to tackle these issues.
Then there is Trees for Climate, an Oxfordshire campaign supporting
national calls to double tree cover. This will absorb sizeable amounts
of carbon dioxide over the next twenty years and is another part of
the wider campaign for a zero-carbon Britain. We need local action
here where could we plant more trees in Botley? (see
www.facebook.com/groups/oxfordshiretreesforclimate )
Wherever you are, there are things you can do.
Do you belong to the Home School Association what’s being done
at school to run it sustainably? Are they reaching out to parents as
well as children? Are you a member of a Book Group? How about
encouraging each other by reading Wilding by Isabella Tree or
Climate Justice by Mary Robinson. These are both books that
describe heart-lifting examples of actions that will make a difference,
and there are others. If you’ve read something that gives you hope,
please tell the Sprout and we’ll compile a reading list.
Is your life so busy that the balancing act between work and home is
as much as you can manage without adding anything more to the
mix? Perhaps work has volunteer days you could use?
19
The main thing is to get into a supportive group, talk to each other
and get started. If direct action feels like the right thing for you,
Extinction Rebellion is setting up a local group (see Randoms, pXX).
If your kids want to inform themselves, the Oxford Natural History
Museum is running a Saturday morning series for 15 to 19 year-olds
from 14th September called ’Let’s talk about Climate’. If you just want
help to get started, ‘Act Now’ is for you.
Dates for your diary
6th September ABC meeting in the Seacourt Hall; 20th
September: National climate Strike; 27th September: Arts and
Science Extravaganza at the Natural History Museum, hosted by
Oxford Extinction Rebellion and Conservation Optimism expect
films, talks, drama, dressing up fun with a serious message! (see
https://www.oumnh.ox.ac.uk/event/heading-for-extinction); 5th Oct:
Low Carbon’s workshops start in WOCC; starting October 7th,
Extinction Rebellion’s autumn campaign of actions in London and
other cities. Together we can make a difference.
Ag MacKeith
21
Demolition photos
Now the shopping centre is rising around us, it has become less a place
of memorable images. But look at the way things were a year ago!
First, Uwe Ackerman’s terrific photo showing shopping-as-usual while the
Seacourt Hall crumbles into dust (below). Brian Russell-Gray’s striking
image of the Beast getting its teeth into West Way House is opposite.
David Kays over the page. There will be more in coming weeks the
standard is very high, and it will be hard to find a winner. It’s a pity that
the Sprout’s black-and-white format and small size can’t really do justice
to them, but well place them online in the Sprout Archive in
BotleyHinksey.org, the community website, in due course.
22
23
25
Public Inquiry into Flood Scheme postponed
A Public Inquiry is needed into the proposed Oxford flood alleviation
scheme because the scheme requires compulsory purchase of land. The
inquiry should have been this summer. However Oxfordshire County
Council have found that the Kennington railway bridge needs replacing.
The culverts that would be part of the flood alleviation scheme can’t be
installed through the road embankment until the bridge has been
replaced. As a result, the Public Inquiry has been postponed indefinitely
probably for at least a year until a solution has been agreed.
As part of the compulsory purchase requirements, the Environment
Agency must replace any publicly accessible land it takes with an
equivalent amount of land in an equivalent location. The Environment
Agency plans to take most of the Seacourt Nature Reserve roughly the
white rectangle in the top left area on the map and replace that by
making ‘publicly accessible’ the scrubland at the back of the Jewsons
store roughly the hatched area in the centre of the map. On the ground,
‘Jewsons Field’ is scrubland that is mostly fenced in, with access and a
path between the north-east and north-west ends, and with a pylon on
the south-west corner. People have been crossing through Jewson’s
Field for decades, rough sleepers have used it for years as a camping
spot, and arguably that land is already ‘publicly accessible’.
If you have any
views about the
flood alleviation
scheme as a
whole, and the
‘Jewsons Field
exchange in
particular, please
send them to
DEFRA Flood Risk
Management,
3rd Floor,
Seacole Block,
2 Marsham St,
London SW1P 4DF
RT
27
100 years of Botley W.I.
Botley WI is celebrating its Centenary this year. The Committee have
tried in vain to find out the exact date that Botley WI opened its doors for
the first time but in the absence of this information we have organised
exciting extra events throughout the year, including a celebratory dinner
in August at Denman, and a Centenary festival in the W.I. hall in
September.
The festival will bring together several community groups and will show
what our members can make and do. Botley used to have Summer
Festivals every year but the event died out many years ago, so it felt right
to resurrect it for this special year. The festival is on the 14th September
in the W.I. hall, 2pm4.30pm. We would love people to come along and
enjoy the afternoon with us. There will be entertainment from local
groups, W.I. competitions to look at, games, and tea and cakes for sale.
The ladies of Botley W.I. have been busy for a long time; an archived note
from 1924 says, ‘The W.I. has held its regular weekly working parties at
which much useful handwork has been done for the sale of work. Also,
their monthly meetings for instruction and amusement have been well
attended.’ We are still being instructed and amused, and hope to continue
to be so for the next 100 years.
Botley WI members in mediaeval gear c1930, reflecting the banner. Could
they have been celebrating the opening of the new W.I. Hall in 1932?
29
Life in the UK
After 31 years of living in the UK as a US citizen, I have recently taken
the ‘Life in the UK’ test, in preparation for changing my nationality (don’t
ask why now). You can prepare for it by reading the official Home Office
‘Life in the UK’ book. Based on the contents of the book, the Home Office
have come up with about 1000 multiple choice questions. You can take
practice tests online, and everyone gets a random set of 24 questions
from that. You need to get 75% to pass.
I found some of the practice questions manageable, like the capital of
Wales, what date Christmas Eve falls on, who the Queen is married to,
and whether I should approach the police if I was aware that a crime had
been committed. Some I felt I should have known, like the meaning of
Diwali and Eid Mubarak (and the fact that there are two Eids). But some
were just brutal, and it made me wonder what ‘Life in the UK’ is all about.
So, for your enjoyment, here are some of the trickier ones (answers at
the bottom):
1. How many National Parks are there in the UK? A.5, B. 8, C. 10, D. 15
2. How many times did Jackie Collins win the F1 championship? A. 2,
B. 3, C. 5, D. 8
3. What country was Florence Nightingale born in? A. UK, B. Spain,
C. Germany, D. Italy
4. Who invented insulin? A. John McLeod, B. Christopher Cockerell,
C. James Goodfellow, D. Peter Mansfield
5. How many million years ago was the Giant’s Causeway formed?
A. 20, B. 30, C. 40, D. 50
6. Which king is associated with the Battle of the Boyne? A. James II,
B. Charles II, C. Edward II, D. William II
7. Which of these musicians wrote The Planets? A. Henry Purcell,
B. Gustav Holst, C. Edward Elgar, D. Ralph Vaughan Williams
8. How long is the Bayeux Tapestry? A. 12m, B. 25m, C. 40m, D. 70m
So… did you get at least 6 right? If not, should the Home Office A. take
away your passport and put you on a raft in the English Channel, or
B. make the test more properly reflective of actual life in the UK?
[Answers: 1. C, 2. B, 3. D, 4. A, 5. D, 6. A, 7. B, 8. D]
31
I have been thinking about the kinds of questions that, for me, better
represent my last 31 years. So here goes:
1. Someone gets in front of you in the bus queue. Do you: A. Move back
in front of them, B. Point out that you were there first, C. Explain to
the bus driver that you were in the queue first and should get the other
person’s seat, D. Quietly store up your anger and write a seething
post about it on Facebook.
2. Your car is falling apart and you don’t want it any more. Do you: A.
Leave it at the recycling centre, B. Sell it to a scrapyard, C. Prop it on
bricks by the side of your house, D. Park it in a layby and set fire to it.
3. You are sitting in the quiet carriage of a train but want to make a
phone call. Which TWO of these can you do: A. Make the phone call
as normal but hunch over so that you can’t see other people staring
at you, B. Move into the vestibule area to make the call, C. Hold off
making the call, D. Make the call in a normal tone of voice but cover
your mouth so that it looks like you’re speaking quietly.
4. Your neighbour is playing music really loudly at 11pm. Do you: A.
Join the party, B. Knock on their door and ask them to turn it down,
C. Move your bedding into your old car which is on bricks on the other
side of the house where it’s quieter, D. Quietly store up your anger
and write a seething post about it on Facebook.
Riki Therivel
33
LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS
P19/V1498/FUL
20 Eynsham Rd. Demolish existing
house, replace with detached building of
five flats, off-street parking, etc
20 June
Target Decision
Date: 15 August
P19/V1512/FUL
5 Toynbee Close. Build two 2-bed flats at
rear with access from Toynbee Close.
Demolish existing house, replace with 2-
storey building containing three flats flats.
20 June
TDD: 15 August
P19/V1651/LDP
34 Cedar Rd. Certificate of Lawful use for
a single storey rear extension.
8 July
TDD: 2 Sept
P19/V1725/PDH
198 Westminster Way. Single storey rear
extension to replace conservatory.
17 July
TDD: 28 Aug
P19/V1744/HH
6 Hurst Rise Rd. Replace garage &
conservatory with a single storey rear and
side extension.
19 July
TDD: 13 Sept
P19/V1812/HH
20 Brogden Close. Rear single storey
extension & new terrace deck.
25 July
TDD: 19 Sept
P19/V1788/FUL
(Replaces appl
P19/V1403/HH).
Gateways, Harcourt Hill. Demolish house
& build larger dwelling in same location.
31 July
TDD: 25 Sept
P19/V1934/FUL
13A Chestnut Rd. Loft conversion of 1st
floor flat for 2nd bedroom & bathroom.
7 August
TDD:2 Oct
P19/V1884/FUL
30 Lime Rd. Proposed dwelling on land
adjacent to Nos. 28 & 30 Lime Road.
8 August
TDD: 3 Oct
P19/V1875/HH
Variation of
Condition 2 of
P19/V0682/HH
87 Hurst Rise Rd. Basement construction.
Front single, side & rear 2-storey
extensions, reducing size of extension,
windows & roof changes.
12 August
TDD: 7 Oct
P19/V1953/HH
Tudor House, 21 Hurst Rise Rd.
Demolish attached garage. Erect 2-storey
side & rear extensions.
12 August
TDD: 7 Oct
35
CAB Here to Help
TV licences for over-75s
The BBC is planning to start charging over-75s for
their TV licences unless they receive Pension
Credit, the benefit for people on low incomes who
have reached the state retirement age.
Currently, everyone aged 75 or older gets a free TV
licence, which covers them and anyone else they live
with. However, as from June 2020, over-75s will be
means tested for the free licence. It is thought that
more than three million people will no longer be eligible to receive it. To
keep your free licence, you must show are entitled to Pension Credit.
Over a million people who qualify for Pension Credit aren't claiming it, the
government says, so it's worth checking your eligibility.
How? By phoning the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 991 234 (Mon-
Fri, 8am6pm) and asking them. Or visit https://www.gov.uk/pension-
credit. You'll need to quote your National Insurance number and be able
to give details of your savings and pensions, as well as the account into
which you want your Pension Credit paid.
If you live in a care home or sheltered housing you can get an
Accommodation for Residential Care licence which costs £7.50. You only
need this if you watch TV in your own separate accommodation. If you
need help understanding this change, telephone Citizens Advice
Adviceline on 03 444 111 444 or come and see us in person at our office
in St Aldates.
Cancelled flights or lost luggage? Know your rights
Airports and air travel have always caused difficulties and stress, but in
the present age with tight security and overcrowded terminal buildings
travellers have to deal with situations more fraught than ever. To add to
their problems flights are often delayed or cancelled, and suitcases
vanish or turn up with items missing or damaged.
If you encounter any of these problems, you will be able to cope better if
you are thoroughly familiar with your options before travelling.
37
If you're flying to or from an EU airport with an EU airline, under EU rules
you might be entitled to compensation if you are delayed. You can check
on the Civil Aviation Authority website www.caa.co.uk which also provides
information on other eventualities and on ATOL financial protection for
package flight travellers. Depending on how long your flight is delayed
and where you’re flying to, the airline might have to provide you with food
and drink, access to phone calls and emails, and accommodation if you're
delayed overnight. Again, the CAA website provides relevant information.
If your flight is cancelled you might have the legal right to have either a
full refund or a replacement flight to get you to your destination (from
another airline if necessary).
If your luggage is delayed, damaged or lost and the airline is at fault, you
can claim compensation from the airline perhaps within 7 days, so act
fast!. But if you have insurance that covers luggage, an insurance claim
might be a better option, depending on your excess.
The Citizens Advice website www.citizensadvice.org.uk will tell you
everything you need to know. You can also phone Citizens Advice
Consumer Service on 03454 040506 or visit our office in St Aldates.
39
Randoms
Winning words
Congratulations to Frida Fallarino of Matthew Arnold for winning Best
Chairperson when her team competed with teams from Icknield and
Wood Green schools in the Acer Trust Youth Speaks competition in July.
The junior school competition, hosted by Matthew Arnold for the first time,
is for teams of three to present a topic of their choice to the audience, by
speech alone unaided by digital devices. It was to all the teams’ credit
that they did not choose easy-wins, but serious topics like ‘the Meaning
of Life’, ‘Can Feminists enter Beauty Pageants’, ‘Vegetarianism’, etc.
With big subjects like these it is easy to lose your way, but the
presentations were all well-structured and interesting. The standard was
high and it was fascinating to see such talent emerging at such a young
age. Was it fanciful to detect a Greta Thunberg effect and not just in all
those plaits!
Community acupuncture
clinic in West Oxford
A community acupuncture clinic
has opened in Dean Court
Community Centre. It keeps
costs down to just £16.50 a
session, by treating more than
one person at a time. Patient
information is collected prior to
the session, which means less
time is needed on the day for
consultation and more people
can be seen at each clinic
session. The aim is to keep this
valuable treatment affordable,
making it accessible to all
Oxfordshire residents. Sessions
run on Mondays from 9.30am till
6pm. Go to www.holistic-
health.org.uk to find out more.
43
Organizations: If your organization is not listed here, please send details to
editor@thesprout.org.uk or telephone 724452 for inclusion.
1st Botley Brownies
Girls aged 7–10
Dean Court Community Centre Thur 6–7.30 Fiona Wheeler,
firstbotleybrownies@gmail.com
2nd Botley Brownies
Girls aged 7–10
Rosary Room, Yarnells Hill. Tues 6:15-7:45 Alison
Griffin 2ndbotleybrownies@outlook.com
4th Oxford Scout Group
Beavers, Cub Scouts, Scouts
Scout Hall, Arnolds Way; mail@thefourth.org.uk
Website: http://www.thefourth.org.uk/
15th Oxford Scout Group
Boys and girls welcome
Fridays, cubs 6.30-8, scouts 8-9.30, Botley Baptist Hall.
Amy Cusden 07887 654386 xvoxfordscouts@yahoo.co.uk
Baby & Toddler Group
Tues/Thurs 9.15–11, SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
Badminton Club
Thurs 7-8pm at Matthew Arnold Sports Hall. Garry Clark
0777 3559 314 garryclark13@gmail.com
Books on Wheels R.V.S.
Free Library Service for housebound Ox. 248142
Botley Boys & Girls F.C.
Football teams from ages 8-16
Jason Barley Ox. 242926 jbarley1@sky.com or Brendan
Byrne 792531 brendan.byrne999@gmail.com
Botley Health Walks
Wednesday 9.30 a.m Contact: Briony 246497
Botley Library
01865 248142. Open till 7 on Friday and 1pm on Sat,
otherwise 9.30 to 5.30 (closed Wednesdays).
Botley Singers
Thur 7.30, St Andrew’s Church, Dean Court. Angela Astley-
Penny Ox.242189 angastpen@aol.com
Branches Café, Westway
Place, Open to All 8am-3pm,
Open for young people 3-5 daily, Th. eves 7–9 Tel:01865
251115 www.branchesyouth.uk Facebook Branches Youth
Cafe, Instagram @_branches_youth
Community Fridge
For all. Put food in, take food out. Ss P&P church, Mon–Sat
9–5, Sun 11–5. Riki Therivel 07759 135811
Cumnor Choral Society
Rehearsals Friday 7.45 to 9.45 pm John May 07795 054142
or www.cumnorchoralsociety.wordpress.com
Cumnor Chess Club
Thurs 7–9pm Cumnor Old School. Steven Bennett 862788
www.cumnorchessclub.co.uk
Cumnor & District Historical
Society
Last Monday of the month 7.30-9.00 Cumnor Old School.
01865 724808
Cumnor Gardening Club
Details on website at http://cumnorgardens.org.uk/ or
phone Chris Impey, 01865 721026
Harmony InSpires, Ladies'
Acappella Singing Group
Wed 7.30 at Appleton village hall. C. Casson 01235 831352
or harmonyinspires@hotmail.co.uk
Hill End Volunteer Team
Contact: David Millin on david.millin@hill-end.org, call
01865-863510 or visit www.hillend-oec.co.uk
Let’s Sing! – singing group
Weds 2pm, WOCC, details Emily 07969 522368
or email emformusic@outlook.com
Morris Dancing – Cry Havoc
Barbara Brett 249599 or bag@cryhavoc.org.uk
44
Mum and Baby Yoga for
babies from 6 wks to crawling
Mondays 10.30 at Dean Court CC, contact Jacqueline Rice
via https://yogawithjacqueline.co.uk
North Hinksey Preschool and
Childcare Clubs
MonFri 7.45am 6.00 pm. 01865 794287 or email
nhps.manager1@gmail.com
N Hinksey Art Group
Weds 10 – 12.00 W.I. Hall Tel: Christina 07931 707997
N Hinksey Bellringers
Contact: Ray Rook 01865 241451
N Hinksey Conservation
Volunteers
Meets at weekends. Contact Voirrey Carr 07798743121
voirreyc@aol.com
N Hinksey, Friends of
Annual Cricket Match & Walk. Douglas Bond 791213.
N Hinksey Parish Council
Colin Ryde, tel 861992, clerk@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk
N Hinksey Youth Club
Wednesdays at Arnold's Way pavilion, call Daz on 07791
212866 or see Facebook
Over Sixties Lunch Club
Every other Thursday. Seacourt Hall. Viv Smith 01865
241539 or Jackie Warner 01865 721386
Oxford Flood Alliance
R Thurston 01865 723663 or 07973 292035
Oxfd Flower Arranging Club
4th Thursday Cumnor. Dympna Walker: 01865 865259
Oxford Harmony Men's
Acappella singing group
Meets Wednesdays 7.45 pm at Seacourt Hall Contact
pro@oxfordharmony.co.uk
Oxford Otters
Swimming for people with disabilities. Sundays, twice
monthly. Contact: Alan Cusden 723420
Oxford Rugby Club
Boys and girls from 5, kevin.honner@ntlworld.com
Seniors, training etc jbrodley@chandlings.org.uk.
Oxford Sports Lawn Tennis
Club, N Hinksey
Family club: Melanie Riste 848658 or
melanie_riste@hotmail.com
Raleigh Park, Friends of
raleighpark@raleighpark.org.uk
Saturdads
Botley Bridges
Fun activities and trips for Dads and under 5’s
10 am–noon 1st Sat of month. Tel: 243955
Seacourt Hall management
committee
Contact: Michael Cockman 07766 317691
michael.cockman@gmail.com.
Shotokan Karate club
6+ WOCC twice weekly Martyn King 07836 646450
Weight Watchers
Thursdays 6pm at SS Peter & Paul Church Hall Banso tel:
07779 253899 bansob@aol.com
West Oxford Bowls Club
Contact details on www.westoxfordbowlsclub.co.uk
West Oxford Taekwon Do
Club
Mon, Thurs 6.30-8pm, MA gym, contact Chris Hall 01865
570291 www.wotkd.co.uk
West Oxford U3A
(Uni of the 3rd Age) http://westoxfordu3a.org.uk/
West Way Day Centre
Mon & Fri 103pm, Field House, 07740 611971.
oxfordshirehub@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk
Women’s Institute (Botley)
Liz Manson, 244175 email liz.manson@virginmedia.com